i press my seams open

I press my seams open when working with very small pieces, and to the darkest fabric for everything else. I have never felt the need to ask for permission to do what works for me, and neither should you :).

I have started pressing all my seams open. My sister-in-law said that is the way her grandmother always did it and she was a prolific quilter. I make my stitch length pretty short and treat ends of the pieces carefully when matching seams. I like the way the seams match much better. I do think you need to match the thread to the fabric a little closer.

That's the way I do it and I use glue to help me match and sew. Since I never have to worry about which way to press, I think it goes just as fast as sandwiching those seams. Besides, my needles and sewing machine like it better that way. And I can design as I go without undoing anything.

This is how I do it, too.

I think that whatever works for you, that's the "right" way to do it. (Until you find a better way, so don't stop experimenting!)

I believe the press the seam allowance to the side goes way back to when quilts were hand pieced. This gave stability to the seams. As batting and thread improves, and most seams are machine pieced, the option to press the seam allowance open is more appropriate.

I understand that pressing the seams open is done for machine piecing but I'm HAND piecing and it still seems to work better for me.

Thanks, NJ Quilters! I've already decided that pressing seams open for hand piecing and quilting is the way to go for me. No need to worry about Quilt Police because I'm not going to tell them where I live!

There are a couple of situations where pressing the seams open are an issue. If you're planning to stitch in the ditch - you will be stitching only over the threads that connect the top together, not very secure. If you use a batting that is not made from long fibers (less expensive) there is a tendency, over time, for those short fibers to work their way up & out, bearding, to make the quilt appear fuzzy. Otherwise - go for it!

I'm going to be quilting 1/8" from seam so I'll be quilting through the open pressed fabric on each side of seam. I think that should make the seams secure. What do you think? I'll also be using Quilters Dream Request for the batting.